Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission and U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention Partner to Strengthen the Quality of Medicines and Public Health

New Delhi, March17, 2017 — In an effort to promote the safety, quality, and effectiveness of medicines, the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, an autonomous institution of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), an independent, scientific nonprofit organization, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to formally recognize the organizations’ collaborations in the identification, development, and dissemination of science-based standards at an international level.

The goal of the MOU is to enhance global public health by working together to:

Increase awareness of the importance of quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, and

Safeguard the integrity of the global supply chain by increasing the availability of and access to needed public standards for medicines.

USP has an office near Hyderabad and has collaborated with IPC on a number of projects for related to medication quality over the last several years. “This MOU is a significant step forward in how two standard setting bodies can work together to improve global health through quality standards,” said Dr. Ronald T. Piervincenzi, USP Chief Executive Officer. “Our collaboration will amplify the global public health impact of both organizations by leveraging our mutual scientific resources to advance international standards.”

About IPC

Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an Autonomous Institution of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India. IPC is created to set standards of drugs in India. Its basic function is to update regularly the standards of drugs commonly required for treatment of diseases prevailing in this region. It publishes official documents for improving Quality of Medicines by way of adding new and updating existing monographs in the form of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP). It further promotes rational use of generic medicines by publishing National Formulary of India.

Pharmacovigilance Programme of India (PvPI) is another important mandate given to the IPC by the Govt. of India which it is managing well. Further details about IPC visit www.ipc.nic.in.

About USP

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a global health organization that improves lives through public standards and related programs that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods. USP’s standards are used worldwide. For more information about USP visit www.usp.org/about.